Underground trash and garbage container

ABSTRACT

An underground trash and garbage can container for maintaining a receptacle below ground level and for raising it above the ground for emptying. A spring actuated lifting platform supports the garbage or trash receptacle and raises it when released by foot pressure on a cam latch. The receptacle is lowered by forcing it down against spring pressure, winding the spring as it moves downwardly into the ground.

United StatesPatent [1 1 Weaver [451 Apr. 2, 1974 UNDERGROUND TRASH AND GARBAGE CONTAINER 1 v [76] Inventor: Hardy 0. Weaver, 4222 Lake Shore Dr., Waco, Tex. 72710 [22] Filed: Feb. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 332,609

52 U.S. c1. ..220/17 ,187/68, 248/132 51 im. C1. ..B65d'25/00 581 Field ofSearch ..248/132;l87/68;220/17 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,277,567 9/1918 Garrison 187/67 2,528,956 10/1950 Henry 248/132 X Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner-H. S. Lane Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Victor J. Evans & Co.

[57] ABSTRACT An underground trash and garbage can container for maintaining a receptacle below ground level and for raising it above the ground for emptying. A spring actuated lifting platform supports the garbage or trash receptacle and raises it when released by foot pressure on a cam latch. The receptacle is lowered by forcing it down against spring pressure, winding the spring as it moves downwardly into the ground.

5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR f 2 I974 SHEEI 1 Of 2 FIG. 3.

UNDERGROUND TRASH AND GARBAGE CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to underground containers for trash and garbage receptacles.

2. Summary of the Invention An underground receptacle is provided with a spring raised platform having a hydraulic check and a cam latch to hold the receptacle in its position in the container. Upon release of the cam latch, the spring raises the platform and the receptacle to a position where the receptacle is above the ground and can be removed for emptying. The emptied receptacle is replaced on the platform and is forced downwardly against the tension of the spring, winding the spring as the receptacle returns to its position in the container. A lid covers the container when the receptacle is in its lowered position. A smaller lid within the larger lid can be opened for emptying garbage and trash into the receptacle.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a neat appearing below ground container for trash and garbage receptacles which is convenient to empty.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention with the lid shown closed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention with the lid open;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; v

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, with the receptacle raised;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; I

FIG. 6 is-an enlarged fragmentary horizontal sec tional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the lift mechanism of the invention removed from the container;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

- FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 8 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through the hydraulic check;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of themrows.

DESCRIPTION OFv THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the'drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally a below ground trash and garbage receptacle container constructed in accordance with the invention.

The container 20 includes a housing 21 having opposed flat sides 22, 23 and an offset 24 extending vertically with the housing 21.

A cover 25 is secured to the housing 21 by a hinge 26. A lid 27 is secured to the cover 25 by a hinge 28. The lid 27 has a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the cover 25. A handle 29 on the cover 25 permits the cover 25 to be swung upwardly on its hinge 26 when it is desired to remove the trash or garbage receptacle 30 from the container 20. The lid 27 has a handle 31 formed thereon to permit the lid 27 to be opened when it is desired to place trash or garbage into the receptacle 30.

A ring 32 is supported on the upper edge of the housing 21 and has a flange 33 which engages over the top edge of the housing 21 to retain the ring 32 in position thereon. A generally rectangular cover 34 is integrally formed on the ring 32 to cover the upper end of the offset 24.

A pair of inwardly facing channel tracks 35, 36 are supported in spaced apart parallel relation on a base cross member 37 having a tongue 38 extending outwardly thereon. The channel track members 35, 36 are connected by a channel cross member 39 at their upper ends, as can be clearly seen'in FIG. 7. The channel track members 35, 36 are bolted to the cross member 37 and the cross member 39 so as to be easily disassembled. A pivot pin 40 is welded to the cross member 39 and extends horizontally into the recess 24 as can be seen in FIG. 6. A cam latch 41 has a cylindrical portion 42 surrounding the pivot pin 40 to pivotally secure the cam latch 41 to the pivot pin 40. A coil spring 43 is mounted on the pivot pin 40 having one end 44 engaging under the cross member 39 and the opposite end 45 engaging under the cam latch 41. The action of the coil spring 43 is to pivot the cam latch 41 upwardly away from the cross member 39.

A slot 46 is formed in the upper end of the offset 24 and a treadle portion 47 of the cam latch 41 extends through the slot 46 so as to be able to be depressed by the foot of the trash and garbage collector desiring to raise the receptacle 30 to ground level for emptying.

A generally rectangular carriage 48 is provided with a pair of spaced parallel horizontal axles 49 having wheels 50 mounted on opposite ends thereof and positioned within the channel tracks 35 and 36 respectively to guide the carriage 48 vertically therebetween. A shaft 51 is mounted in the carriage 48 and has a spring reel 52 mounted thereon for rotation thereabout. The spring reel 52 has a coil spring 53 mounted thereon and secured at one end to the reel 52 and at the opposite end to the shaft 51. The shaft 51 can be turned to tighten or loosen the spring 53 and is held in its tightened position by a dog 54 engaging in any one of a plurality of circumferentially spaced bores 55.

A cable 56 wound on the drum 52 extends upwardly and is looped over a pin 57 carried by the cross member 39.

A horizontal flange 58 is formed on the carriage 48 and the lower end of a hydraulic cylinder 59 is secured thereto by a nut 60. A piston rod 61 extends downwardly out of the hydraulic cylinder 59 and is connected to the tongue 38 at its lower end. The upper end of the piston rod 61 has a piston 62 mounted thereon 3 with a bypass bore 63 formed therein. The nut 60 has an O-ring seal 64 formed therein to seal the piston rod 61 as it leaves the hydraulic cylinder 59. Movement of the hydraulic cylinder 59 upwardly with respect to the piston 62 is resisted by the hydraulic fluid below the piston 62 being forced upwardly through'the bore 63 in the piston 62. As the hydraulic cylinder 59 is lowered, the fluid above the piston 62 is forced downwardly through the bore 63 and around the piston 62 so that downward movement of the hydraulic cylinder 59 is relatively unchecked. The hydraulic cylinder 59 extends through a bore 65 in the cam latch 41 so that the hydraulic cylinder 59 is latched against upward movement with respect to the cam latch 41 until the cam latch 41 is pressed downwardly to a position generally parallel to the cross member 39. A foot treadle 66 onthe upper end of the hydraulic cylinder 59 permits the foot to be used to force the hydraulic cylinder 59 and hence, the carriage 48, back into the ground in the container.

A pair of beams 67, 68 are secured to the lower end of carriage 48 and extend outwardly therefrom in spaced apart generally parallel relation across the container 20. A ring 69 is secured to the beams 67, 68 to center the trash or garbage receptacle 30 supported on the beams 67, 68.

In the use and operation of the invention, a trash or garbage receptacle 30 is placed on the beams 67, 68

within the ring 69 and is pressed downwardly into the ground until the tread plate 66 can be forced the remainder of the distance downwardly with foot pressure. The cover 25 and lid 27 are then closed, concealing the receptacle 30. When it is desired to place garbage or trash in the receptacle 30, the lid 27 is opened with the handle 31 to give access to the receptacle 30. When the receptacle 30 is to be emptied by the trash and garbage disposal crews, they first open the cover 25 and then press downwardly with the foot on the tread portion 47 of the cam latch 41 until the cam latch 41 is nearly parallel with the cross member 39. This releases the cam grip of the bore 65 on the hydraulic cylinder 59 and permits the hydraulic cylinder 59 and carriage 48 to be raised under the force of the spring 53, thus raising the beams 67, 68 and the receptacle 30 supported thereon. With the receptacle 30 in its raised position, it is easily removed from the beams 67, 68 and emptied into a suitable vehicle. The receptacle 30 is then replaced on the beams 67, 68 and pressure downwardly on the receptacle'30 and on the tread plate 66 on the upper end of the hydraulic cylinder 59 forces the beams 67, 68- to their lowermost position within the housing 21. The cover 25 and lid 27 are then closed, completing the cycle.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An underground container for garbage and trash receptacles comprising a housing, a pair of spaced parallel vertical channel tracks positioned in said housing along one side thereof, a carriage, a plurality of wheels on opposite sides of said carriage engaging in said channel tracks for guiding said carriage for vertical movement in said receptacle, a pair of beams extending horizontally outwardly from said carriage for supporting a trash or garbage receptacle, spring means on said carriage for raising said carriage upwardly in said container, a hydraulic check secured to said carriage for restraining the upward movement of said carriage, and a cam latch engaging said hydraulic check for holding said carriage at its lowermost position in said container.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic check includes a hydraulic cylinder secured to said carriage and movable therewith and a piston rod extending downwardly from said carriage and secured to said channel tracks.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cam latch engages about said hydraulic cylinder to latch said hydraulic cylinder against upward movement.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring means for moving said carriage comprises a reel mounted in said carriage, a coil spring mounted in said reel for rotating said reel in a direction to raise said carriage and a cable wound on said spring reel and secured to the upper end of said channel tracks for raising said carriage upon rotation of said reel.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4 including means for adjusting the tension of said coil spring in said reel. 

1. An underground container for garbage and trash receptacles comprising a housing, a pair of spaced parallel vertical channel tracks positioned in said housing along one side thereof, a carriage, a plurality of wheels on opposite sides of said carriage engaging in said channel tracks for guiding said carriage for vertical movement in said receptacle, a pair of beams extending horizontally outwardly from said carriage for supporting a trash or garbage receptacle, spring means on said carriage for raising said carriage upwardly in said container, a hydraulic check secured to said carriage for restraining the upward movement of said carriage, and a cam latch engaging said hydraulic check for holding said carriage at its lowermost position in said container.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydraulic check includes a hydraulic cylinder secured to said carriage and movable therewith and a piston rod extending downwardly from said carriage and secured to said channel tracks.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said cam latch engages about said hydraulic cylinder to latch said hydraulic cylinder against upward movement.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring means for moving said carriage comprises a reel mounted in said carriage, a coil spring mounted in said reel for rotating said reel in a direction to raise said carriage and a cable wound on said spring reel and secured to the upper end of said channel tracks for raising said carriage upon rotation of said reel.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 4 including means for adjusting the tension of said coil spring in said reel. 